ogden



Sept. 11, 1928.

A. OGDEN DEPTH CHARGE, nous, PROJECflILE, AND OTHER EXPLOSIVE sonxss 3 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1926 Sept. 11, 1928.

' 1,683,692 A. OGDEN DEPTH CHARGE, BO MB, PROJECTILE, AND OTHER EXPLOSIVE BODIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 fi RNA M 7 l I x p E 1 7/// \V/ r A4//7 7 Sept. 11, 1928. A. OGDEN DEPTH CHARGE, BOMB, PROJEC'ITILE, AND OTHER EXPLQSIYE BQDiES Filed A 'ri 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PatentedSept; 11, 1928.

v may ar err ouwnsrivnivsrnn, ENGLAND, A Berri-en COMPANY. 1

DEPTH CHARGE, BoMn'rBoJEorILE, Ann o'rrrna EXPLOSIVE BODIES! Application filed April 5; 1926, Serial No. saeesfa d in Great Britain April 9', 1925;

This invention relates to depth charges, bombs, projectiles and like explosivebodies r (hereinafter termed depth charges) in which the firing gear comprises two units 5 adapted to move towards one another under the influence of hydrostatic "pressuref-In such firing mechanismthe pistol (i; e. the

, .part which carries the detonator) "usually constitutes one unit, and the primer usually H) constitutes the other unit. Both said units, areslidably mounted within a tube extendingaxially of the depth cl1arge,and the said units are adapted, under the influence of hydrostatic pressure to move inwards to- 3 wards the centre of the depth charge so as to r explode the same. It has been found when depth charges fitted' wit-h such relatively moving firing units aresuddenly accelerated, or their movemen'tsuddenly retarded, one or otherof the two units is liable tobe impelled by inertia "or momentum along the tube within which it I is located towards the other unt," this result "tending'jo occur'when the depth charge is 2- suddenly accelerated w 1611 being projected by a thrower or gun or onthe sudden stoppage or retardation of the movement o'lf-the depth charge when the latter strikes the water or a solidsubstance or in cases where the depth charge is accidentally dropped ur ile being handled. j

riccording to the present invention safety means are provided which permit of the nec essary relative movement under the influence of the hydrostatic pressure of both uni-ts towards one another to explode the 'd epthl charge, but eifectually prevent any such movement of the units under the influence of inertia or momentum as would accidentally or prematurely, explode the depth charge 7 v In order thatithe said invention be,

clearly understood and readily carriedinto efiect, the same will now .be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: i I

Figure 1 is a, sectional view of part of a depth charge constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention,

-Figure 2 isya sectional view showing a modified form ofthe present invention.

Figure 3 is a viewon a larger scale of the upper part of Figure 2."

Figure 4 is a view on a larger scale of the middle part of Figure 2,

showing the parts of Figures Figure-5 is a view similar to Figure 4.

3 and in tiring position. I 1

Inthe emhodimentshown at Figure l'the' safety. 'nieans comprise a stop device co'nst-ituted by a ring like member A located at or about ,the' centre ot the axially disposed tube B within which the pistol unit C and theprimerunit D are slidably mounted, said ring 'like member A having'a central opening (z'tlirough which thedetonator 0, carried 'bytlie p stol unit C, projects when therelatively movable parts C and D move towards one another under the influence of hydrostatic pressure and assumefthe firing position.

In orne" that the tube B may accommodate the stop ring A it is formed in two parts whichare adapted'to be coupled together at the centre ot the depth charge by being locatedwithiu a sleeve (1, having screw threaded ends and an internalflange which proje-cts vithin the tube B forms the stop ring proper. I Y z,

The p stol unit G2. is of the type described in my c'opending U. S. patent application,

SerialNm 59,808, filed October 1, 1 925' and includes a depthregulator for, varying, the depth at which automatic tiring takes placel As explained in the said specification the depth regulator is provided with a number of air spaces one or more of which can be placed n communication with the main air space E located between the pistol i and primer units C and D so as to-increase or diminish the volume of air initially trapped between said rclatively'movable pistol and primer units, autom'at'c' firing being adapted to take place when the hydrostatic pressure has moved both the'pistol and primer units,

against the pressure of the trapped air,into correct relat ve fiI'1I1g"pQS1t10fi;j Both the pistol and primer units arefittedwith a-rub b er ring (not shown) but similar to that des gnated by the letter L in Figure 2.

In the modified arrangement shown at Figure 2 the depth charge pistol}? isrigidly attached to the guide tube Gr and-thusacts in a. sinnlar inannerto the stop TllliQA SllOWlT at Figure 1, while the depth regulator H is itself movable within the tube 6, under, the influence of the hydrostaticpressure, relatively to the primer unit I.

In this embodiment of the invention the ion "depth regulator is provided with two auXi'llar y air chambers land J in addition to :the mainair chamber K, the main air chain ber K being. located oneach side of the pistol F and a passage 70 b'eing prOVided to place the two parts of the chamberK in communication with one another.

The depth regulator H and the primer unit I are each provided with arubber ring L located respectively between the depth tube- Gavithin which they are slidablyjmounted. The rubber rings L, L, ma ntain an airtight;

regulator H and primer unit I and the joint,'while at the same time, give'very'little resistance to'movement. By means of these rubber rings a' volume of air is strapped between the primer unit land the depth reg- I ulator H which has to compressed before these "two members can move into a position at which they jointly operate the depth charge pistol F. The externalwater pres sure and the internal air pressure will at any'given depth be substantially the same,

the hydrostatic pressure being slightly greater so as to overcome the slight friction due I to the presence 'ofrthe rubber rings. L, L.

I chamber-K. V V In the arrangement: shownat Figure 2 the depth charge isada'pted to fire at 30, 120 or, 180 feet. 'In order to fire at feet the There is, therefore, no tendency for air to leak out and due tothe slight difierence of pressure the rubber rings L,Le1fectually prevent "water from leaking inwards. The initial air volume andthe finalcompr ssion volume provided for. the purpose of regulating'the depth which firing is to take place is-adjusted in advance by cutting off the volumes J and J by means of a' rotary valve M 1 from communication, through the pas sages an, mfllm andm Wltllthe main air additional-volumes J and J are opened to the central working volume K; to fire at 120 feet the volume 'J is cutrofl'; to fire at 180 feet the volumes J. and J 3 are cut 'oil'. Vhen, however, the dcpthcharge has reached the depth at which automaticfiringQi-s. to

take place and is subjected to adhydrostatirz pressure correspondint, to one of the Y said, set depths the depth regulator H- is pushed inwards 'until :it str-i'kesthe pistol F and'moves inwards the to compress the spring f i-At' the same time the primer unit I h as also been moved inwards by the hydrostatic. pressure along the guide tube until it contacts,with the shoulder f and "pushes inthedetonator support f also compressing the spring f. \Vhen both these movements are completed therballs of a ball releasing device of common construction are free to move radially outwardsinto the space f? thus releasing i the striker f which moves charge sinks sarlly varies,

part f 'so aspartially forward and-fires, thedetonator f7. Itwill be'clear that in this embodiment of thein .vention, in common with the embodiment described with reference to. Figure .1' the pistol cannot operate until both the depth regulator, and the primer units are simultaneously pushed in etc the centre of the guide tube. Should the primer unlt or the depth regulator move in scparately for example owing to IHQTUQ L'hQ depth charge cannot accidentally be exploded as thepistol can only be operated bythe hydrostatic pressureacting simultaneously onboth units.

The firing of the depth charge, is therefore independentof thespecd at which the depth thewater which speed necesaccordingto the height troin ch the. depth charge has been dropped, example, the. speed will be greater 1f the depth charge is dropped from an aero-* I plane than Willbe the case if it is dropped from the deck of surface vessel. 7 V

lVhatIclaim anddesire to secure by Let- Patent otthe rlnited States is c 1.21 submarine explosive body wherein the firing gear comprises in combinationtwo movable "rnits which are normally out of contact with one another, means whereby, as

said body-sinks, both said units are moved towards each other into firing relationship at a predetermined depth of immersion,

means for causing said-units to explodethe mineautomat cally as they reach said firing rela ionship, and "safety means, located at a point between said relatively movable units, for preventing them from accidentallyw assuming firingrelationshipjunder the influence of inertia or. momentum.

'2; A submarine explosive bodv wherein the firing gear comprises in combination a 'tube,' two units slidably mounted in said tube V and adapted, as said body sinks, to move towards one another under the influence of hydrostatic pressure and actuate'the firing gear at the set depth, and safety means substantaally 'at the center of sa d tube which prcventisaidunits, until the set depth'ls reached,- from accidentally exploding the body under the influence of inertia 01' momentum..

3. 'A submarine-explosive body wherein thefir ngj gearcomprisesv a Y guide tube, a

depth regulating unitand. aprimer unit. 'shd'ably mounted n said tube and adapted to move, towards oiieianother. under the in-f fluenceflofhydrostatic pressure and explode the'boidy at the set depth, and a safety device constituted'by a stop center of said guide tube.

AMos OGDEN ring located about the 

